Help with 180 Berger Hybrid Load

It looks like I'm going to have to switch out my current load for my 7mm Remington Magnum. I've been using 162 Amax's with RL22, but I don't believe I'll be able to get my hands on enough bullets to last me before Hornady starts making them again. I'm thinking about stocking up on 180 Berger Hybrids when they start hitting the shelves again. I will be using Norma brass, or at least that's what I have anyways. Could anyone tell me what powder (preferably the least temp. sensitive) to use, how much (or what works for them), and what kind of velocity to expect? I'm also not opposed to the 168 VLDS, but figured on the 180's for the higher BC, but would gladly listen to any load data on those as well. Thanks for your feedback!

Why not just swap to the Berger 168 VLD's...It will be a much easier swap.

I have found that none of my 7mm rifles like the 180 Hybrids, except my 7mm STW. I had about given up hope, until I decided to do a ladder-test in my STW just for fun to see if it liked them, and it did.

I tried them in all 3 of my 7mm RM's, and none of them like the 180 Hybrids. I guess they were just a tad too heavy and long, and moving too slow for them. However, all of mine love the 168 VLD's. Dropped 2 deer with them this year. First one only ran about 25 yards, and the second one was a bang-flop. She didn't take a step... I have been really impressed with the 168's and the VLD bullets in general, both target shooting and hunting.

Back to the topic at-hand...If you have a true 1:9 twist barrel, you SHOULD be able to shoot them fine.

I use 7828 SSC, and it has proven day-in, day-out to be very temp stable for me. Both deer I killed this past year were shot in the same weekend, 1 day apart, with the same loads that were loaded at the same time. But the temp had swung about 35 degrees between those shots. The first shot was EARLY in the morning and it was about 18 degrees outside. It was dammit-cold. The second shot it was probably around 50-55 degrees in the afternoon. So far it's survived a 35 degree Alabama temp swing, which is pretty impressive. LOL

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"I'm just a peckerwood who lives in the hills with too many guns..." - Bob Lee Swagger

Thanks for your input! I just figured I'd be better off with the higher BC of the 180s, but after reading your post I'm glad I didn't backorder a boatload of them. I guess the best thing to do is buy a few of the 168s and 180s and test them. I don't have my hopes up now though for the 180s. I forgot to mention what my barrel was. Its a Shilen Match Grade Select 27 1/2" 1:9 twist Stainless Steel. So, I should be able to use either. Temperature sensitivity is probably a big issue for where I'm at. My hunting is done at a big temperature spread, -20 to 60. That's a huge difference, you never know what you're going to get here. Also, I do most of my shooting and sighting in during July-September and its anywhere from 70-105. Basically I practice when its nice and hunt when it is brutal, so whatever will work best. I'm sure there isn't a powder that works the same from -20 to 105, but whichever one will have the least difference is most ideal. Once again, thanks, you have the wheels in my heading turning!

I use Alliant RL17 with Berger 180 VLD (my .284 - vis a vis 7mm - likes 51.1 grains of RL17) and it works very very well.

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Thanks for your input! I just figured I'd be better off with the higher BC of the 180s, but after reading your post I'm glad I didn't backorder a boatload of them. I guess the best thing to do is buy a few of the 168s and 180s and test them. I don't have my hopes up now though for the 180s. I forgot to mention what my barrel was. Its a Shilen Match Grade Select 27 1/2" 1:9 twist Stainless Steel. So, I should be able to use either. Temperature sensitivity is probably a big issue for where I'm at. My hunting is done at a big temperature spread, -20 to 60. That's a huge difference, you never know what you're going to get here. Also, I do most of my shooting and sighting in during July-September and its anywhere from 70-105. Basically I practice when its nice and hunt when it is brutal, so whatever will work best. I'm sure there isn't a powder that works the same from -20 to 105, but whichever one will have the least difference is most ideal. Once again, thanks, you have the wheels in my heading turning!

If you have an aftermarket 1:9 twist barrel, you should have no issues shooting the 180's. However, most factory barrels they say it's a 9" twist, but it might really be a 9.25" or a 9.5" when measured, and they won't stabilize them. Which I think it what happened with my Rem 700 barrel. I know for a fact both my Ruger and Browning 7mmRM's came with 9.5" twists from the factory. But my Remington was supposed to be a 1:9, and it doesn't like the 180's.

Like I said, if you have a good quality name brand aftermarket barrel with a 1:9 twist, and you find the right powder charge, you should have no issues shooting the 180 VLD's or Hybrids.

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"I'm just a peckerwood who lives in the hills with too many guns..." - Bob Lee Swagger

Retumbo and H1000 are my go-to powders for both 180s and 168s in my 28" Pac-nor. I'm sure H4831 would work too. You might sacrifice some velocity with 4831 though.

I might have had a bad batch of H1000...But I have found it to not be as temp-stable as they claim it to be. Like I said, could have been a bad batch, but it happened. Load shot great in the fall/winter...Come spring/summer it would have shot a better group if I had picked up a handful of bulelts and thrown them at the target myself.

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"I'm just a peckerwood who lives in the hills with too many guns..." - Bob Lee Swagger